The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to search for a system that delivers superior comfort in your Long Island home while still ensuring energy efficient. Better energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings mean?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Long Island. A greater SEER rating signifies a larger energy efficiency, which will convert into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an modern system.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it finds the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel used. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat generated is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to keep track of the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the colder months as it only determines your unit’s heating effectiveness. Like the others, the higher the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Airmax Long Island Inc in Long Island offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 631-737-5566 to arrange for an appointment with us.